Perry Como
Perry Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 1912, to Italian immigrant parents, Pietro and Lucia Como. He was the seventh of 13 children and the first to be a U.S. citizen by birth. Initially, Como worked as a barber, starting at the age of 14, and successfully ran his own shop. His career in music began in 1933 when he auditioned for the Freddy Carlone band during a vacation in Cleveland, Ohio. Encouraged by his family, he left his barbering career to pursue music, joining the Ted Weems Band in 1937.
Como's career took off after the Weems Band dissolved in 1942. He was offered a radio show and an RCA Victor recording contract, which marked the beginning of his rise to stardom. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he had 42 Top Ten hits and appeared in four films. He became a prominent television personality, hosting "The Perry Como Show" on NBC from 1955 to 1963, winning an Emmy and other prestigious awards in its first year. Although he semi-retired after 1963, he continued recording and performing in Christmas TV specials until 1992.
Over his career, Perry Como recorded 22 albums and 147 singles. He was honored with a statue in his hometown for his 87th birthday. Perry Como passed away at his home on May 12, 2001. His legacy is preserved in the Perry Como collection at the American Music Research Center, which includes scripts, scores, photographs, and memorabilia from his extensive career.
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